Chapelle royale
Encyclopedia
The chapelle royale was the musical establishment attached to the royal chapel of the French kings. The term may also be applied to the chapel buildings, the Chapelle royale de Versailles.
The establishment included a choir, organist and instrumentalists and was separate from the musique du chambre which performed secular music.
In 1511 Louis XII decided the responsibilities of the treasurer of the Sainte-Chapelle
and the master of the chapelle royale.
was the king whom legend tells said "Paris is worth a Mass."
built the first chapel at Versailles
in 1665.
On the 1683 retirement of Du Mont and Pierre Robert the position of maître of the chapelle was divided into four positions:
1761 Four posts reduced to two.
founded in 1977 in Paris by the Belgian conductor Philippe Herreweghe
.
The establishment included a choir, organist and instrumentalists and was separate from the musique du chambre which performed secular music.
During the reign of Louis XII (1498-1515)
- Josquin des PrezJosquin Des PrezJosquin des Prez [Josquin Lebloitte dit Desprez] , often referred to simply as Josquin, was a Franco-Flemish composer of the Renaissance...
premier chantre de la chapelle de Louis XII
In 1511 Louis XII decided the responsibilities of the treasurer of the Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle
La Sainte-Chapelle is the only surviving building of the Capetian royal palace on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, France. It was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including the Crown of Thorns - one of the most important relics in medieval...
and the master of the chapelle royale.
François 1 (1515–1547)
- Claudin de SermisyClaudin de SermisyClaudin de Sermisy was a French composer of the Renaissance. Along with Clément Janequin he was one of the most renowned composers of French chansons in the early 16th century; in addition he was a significant composer of sacred music...
, clerc musicien of the Sainte-ChapelleSainte-ChapelleLa Sainte-Chapelle is the only surviving building of the Capetian royal palace on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, France. It was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including the Crown of Thorns - one of the most important relics in medieval...
in 1508, and in 1515 also a member of the Chapelle Royale under Louis II. From 1532 sous-maître of the chapelle of François I.
Charles IX (1560–1574), Henri III (1574-1589), Henri IV, Bourbon (1589-1610)
Henri IVHenry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
was the king whom legend tells said "Paris is worth a Mass."
- Eustache du CaurroyEustache Du CaurroyEustache du Caurroy was a French composer of the late Renaissance. He was a prominent composer of both secular and sacred music at the end of the Renaissance, including musique mesurée, and he was also influential on the foundation of the French school of organ music as exemplified in the work of...
maître de la chapelle du roi - Claude Lejeune maître de la chapelle du roi
- Nicolas ForméNicolas ForméNicolas Formé was a French composer.At the age of 20 in 1587 Formé joined the choir of the Sainte-Chapelle, but was excluded from the fraternity for drunkenness and womanising...
singer and composer from 1592, before return to the Sainte-ChapelleSainte-ChapelleLa Sainte-Chapelle is the only surviving building of the Capetian royal palace on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, France. It was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including the Crown of Thorns - one of the most important relics in medieval...
.
During the reign of Louis XIII (1610-1643)
Louis XIIILouis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
built the first chapel at Versailles
Chapels of Versailles
The present chapel of the Palace of Versailles is the fifth in the history of the palace. These chapels evolved with the expansion of the château and formed the focal point of the daily life of the court during the Ancien Régime .-First chapel:The château's first chapel dated from the time of...
in 1665.
- Jacques Blondin, maitre de la chapelle royale de Paris
- Pierre Robert (composer)Pierre Robert (composer)Pierre Robert was French composer and early master of the French grand motet.Pierre Robert was educated at the boys choir, or maîtrise, of Notre-Dame de Paris under the direction of Henry Frémart, Jean Francois, and Cosset Veillot before being appointed master of music at the Cathedral of Senlis...
(c.1615-1699), sous-maître from 1633.
During the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715) "The Sun King"
- Henry Du Mont (1610-1684), sous-maître from 1663; compositeur from 1672.
- Thomas Gobert, sous-maître from 1654.
- Nicolas Le Prince.
- Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville, maître de musique de la chapelle du roi
On the 1683 retirement of Du Mont and Pierre Robert the position of maître of the chapelle was divided into four positions:
- Pascal CollassePascal CollassePascal Collasse was a French composer of the Baroque era. Born in Rheims, Collasse became a disciple of Jean-Baptiste Lully during the latter's domination of the French operatic stage...
(1649—1709), assistant to Lully until 1683, when he won one of the four seasonal assignments into which the Chapelle Royale directorship had been divided. His later years were devoted to alchemyAlchemyAlchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
. - Michel Richard DelalandeMichel Richard DelalandeMichel Richard Delalande [de Lalande] was a French Baroque composer and organist who was in the service of King Louis XIV. He was one of the most important composers of grand motets. He also wrote orchestral suites known as "Simphonies pour les Soupers du Roy" and ballets...
(1657-1726), from 1683 sous-maître de la Chapelle royale. - Nicolas GoupilletNicolas GoupilletNicolas Goupillet also Coupillet or Goupillier was a French Baroque composer - albeit a composer who may not have himself composed all of his works....
(1650–1713), sous-maître from 1683 - but in 1693 dismissed for plagiarism of Henri Desmarest. - Guillaume MinoretGuillaume MinoretGuillaume Minoret was a French baroque composer.He was of the generation of Marc-Antoine Charpentier, but unlike him only a small part of his œuvre survives...
, sous-maître from 1683 - Jean-Baptiste StuckJean-Baptiste StuckJean-Baptiste Stuck or "Batistin" was an Italian-French composer and cellist of the Baroque.Little is known of Stuck's early years. He was born at Livorno, came from a merchant family, and was the son of Giovanni-Giacomo Stuck and Barbera Hellerbeck. From 1702 he was in the service of Countess...
, cellist
Louis XV (1715–1774)
- Charles-Hubert GervaisCharles-Hubert GervaisCharles-Hubert Gervais was a French composer of the Baroque era. The son of a valet to King Louis XIV's brother, Monsieur, Gervais was born at the Palais Royal in Paris and probably educated by Monsieur's musical intendants, Jean Granouillet de Sablières and Charles Lalouette. He worked as a...
(1671–1744), In 1721 named one of four sous-maîtres - André CampraAndré CampraAndré Campra was a French composer and conductor.Campra was one of the leading French opera composers in the period between Jean-Baptiste Lully and Jean-Philippe Rameau. He wrote several tragédies en musique, but his chief claim to fame is as the creator of a new genre, opéra-ballet...
, sous-maître from 1721 - Nicolas BernierNicolas BernierNicolas Bernier was a French composer.-Biography:He was born in Mantes-sur-Seine , the son of Rémy Bernier and Marguerite Bauly. He studied with Antonio Caldara and is known for an Italian-influenced style. After Marc-Antoine Charpentier he is probably the most Italian-influenced French composer...
(1664–1734), sous-maître from 1721 - Anne Danican PhilidorAnne Danican PhilidorAnne Danican Philidor is best remembered today for having founded the Concert Spirituel, an important series of public concerts held in the palace of the Tuileries from 1725 to 1791....
(1681-1728) sous-maître from 1723. - Henry MadinHenry MadinHenry Madin was a French composer at the Chapelle royale.Madin's parents had left Ireland in the early 1690s with the wild geese, and settled in Verdun.-Works, editions and recordings:...
(1698-1748), sous-maître
1761 Four posts reduced to two.
- Esprit Antoine BlanchardEsprit Antoine BlanchardEsprit-Joseph-Antoine Blanchard was a French baroque composer, a contemporary of Jean-Philippe Rameau, and regarded as a representative composer of religious music in eighteenth-century France....
(1696-1770) - abbé Charles Gauzargues (1725-1799)
- Julien Amable Mathieu (1734—1811)
Louis XVIII (1815–1824), Charles X (1824–1830), Louis XIX (1830), Henry V (1830)
- Luigi CherubiniLuigi CherubiniLuigi Cherubini was an Italian composer who spent most of his working life in France. His most significant compositions are operas and sacred music. Beethoven regarded Cherubini as the greatest of his contemporaries....
from 1816, directeur
Louis Philippe I (1830–1848), Second Empire (1852–1870)
- Daniel François Esprit Auber succeeded Cherubini and then was maître de chapelle of Napoléon III from 1852.
Organists
- François d'AgincourtFrançois d'AgincourtFrançois d'Agincourt was a French harpsichordist, organist, and composer. He spent most of his life in Rouen, his native city, where he worked as organist of the Rouen Cathedral and of three smaller churches. Highly regarded during his lifetime, d'Agincourt was one of the organists of the royal...
- Guillaume-Antoine Calvière
- François CouperinFrançois CouperinFrançois Couperin was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was known as Couperin le Grand to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented Couperin family.-Life:Couperin was born in Paris...
, organist (January trimester) from 1693-1730 - Jean Buterne, (April trimester)
- Guillaume-Gabriel NiversGuillaume-Gabriel NiversGuillaume-Gabriel Nivers was a French organist, composer and theorist. His first livre d'orgue is the earliest surviving collection with traditional French organ school forms...
, organist (July trimester) - Nicolas LebègueNicolas LebègueNicolas Lebègue was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was born in Laon and in 1650s settled in Paris, quickly establishing himself as one of the best organists of the country. He lived and worked in Paris until his death, but frequently made trips to other cities to...
, (October trimester) - Jacques Thomelin
- Jean-Baptiste Buterne
- Gabriel Garnier
- Louis MarchandLouis MarchandLouis Marchand was a French Baroque organist, harpsichordist, and composer. Born into an organist's family, Marchand was a child prodigy and quickly established himself as one of the best known French virtuosi of his time. He worked as organist of numerous churches and, for a few years, at the...
- Jean-François DandrieuJean-François DandrieuJean-François Dandrieu was a French Baroque composer, harpsichordist and organist.He was born in Paris into a family of artists and musicians. A gifted and precocious child, he gave his first public performances when he was 5 years old, playing the harpsichord for Louis XIV, King of France, and...
- Nicolas-Hubert Paulin
- Louis-Claude DaquinLouis-Claude DaquinLouis-Claude Daquin , was a French composer of Jewish birth writing in the Baroque and Galant styles. He was a virtuoso organist and harpsichordist.-Life:...
- Pierre-Claude FoucquetPierre-Claude FoucquetPierre-Claude Foucquet was a French organist and harpsichordist.Pierre-Claude Foucquet was born in Paris, the son of Pierre Foucquet and Anna-Barbe Domballe. He was born into a family of musicians. At age 18, he was appointed as the organist at Saint Honoré church in Paris...
- Jean Landrin
- Claude-Bénigne BalbastreClaude-Bénigne BalbastreClaude Balbastre was a French composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was one of the most famous musicians of his time.-Life:Claude Balbastre was born in Dijon in 1724...
- Armand-Louis CouperinArmand-Louis CouperinArmand-Louis Couperin was a French composer, organist, and harpsichordist of the late Baroque and early Classical periods. He was a member of the Couperin family of musicians, of which the most notable were his great uncle Louis and his cousin François.- Biography :Couperin was born in Paris...
- Jean-Jacques Le Bourgeois
- Pierre-Louis Couperin
- Nicolas Séjan
See also
La Chapelle RoyaleLa Chapelle Royale
- History :La Chapelle Royale was founded in 1977 in Paris by the Belgian conductor Philippe Herreweghe. It takes its name from the Chapelle royale of the French kings....
founded in 1977 in Paris by the Belgian conductor Philippe Herreweghe
Philippe Herreweghe
Philippe Herreweghe is a Flemish conductor.In his school years at the University of Ghent, Herreweghe combined studies in medical science and psychiatry with a musical education at the Ghent Conservatory, where Marcel Gazelle, Yehudi Menuhin's accompanist, was his piano teacher...
.